National Disability Insurance Scheme

 Deafness Forum of Australia congratulates the federal government on the realisation of its commitment to introduce a National Disability Insurance Scheme.

NDIS has the potential to become one of Australia’s greatest social legacies, meeting the same worldwide acknowledgement afforded to the British National Health Service, a legacy created by one of Britain’s great Labor Prime Ministers Clement Atlee.

The announcement of seed funding for the testing phase of the NDIS is met with encouragement and a message that it is a good start.

More must be done to ensure the NDIS is constructed and delivered to ensure this potentially historic reform provides real financial and emotional support to millions of Australians who are disabled, their carers and families.

It is crucial that people with a disability have a lead role throughout this process.

Deafness Forum of Australia proposes the following initiatives to ensure the investment by the nation is properly targeted, wholly inclusive, delivered on time and reaps real economic benefits:

-    A tri-partisan cross-bench parliamentary committee to oversee the design and implementation process.

-    A genuine strategy to properly engage with people with disabilities to ensure their needs are thoroughly investigated, understood and embedded in the NDIS design.

-    A commitment to frequent, regular and informative public reporting.

-    A commitment to provide financial support until at least 2018 to the 13 national disability peak organisations (as well as any alliances) of which Deafness Forum of Australia is one, to ensure consumer inquiries and issues are gathered and presented to the parliamentary committee  and the government by independent voices, rather than from organisations that are service providers.  

We note the first stage of the NDIS will begin in July 2013 in four locations, yet to be negotiated between the federal, state and territory governments.

The number of people targeted in the first rounds of assessment barely scratches the surface.

It is estimated there are more than 3 million Australians who are deaf or hearing impaired or have a chronic ear disorder. That number will increase in the next decade as the population ages.

Deafness Forum is deeply concerned that these Australians may be excluded from NDIS.

The critical issue is whether they will be included in the launch sites when they are announced this time next year.

Deafness Forum of Australia

is the peak overarching body for deafness and hearing impairment in Australia.

Our vision is for access, choice and social inclusion for all people who are Deaf, deafblind, have a hearing impairment or a chronic ear disorder; and for community-wide awareness of hearing health.

Our Patron is Australia's second longest serving prime minister (1996-2007), the Honourable John Howard AC.

Hearing impaired since youth, he has worn two hearing aids throughout his professional career.

Mr Howard was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, America's highest civilian award, recognising exceptional meritorious service. The honour roll includes astronaut Neil Armstrong, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.